We've seen this before. Vanderbilt opened the 2017 season with a 28-6 win in Murfreesboro on its way to a 3-0 start … and a 5-7 finish. The Blue Raiders bounced back after that loss and went on to a 7-6 record and a bowl berth.

So, before you start your football banter in church or the grocery store on Sunday, or gab or brag at the friendly neighborhood Labor Day barbecue on Monday, remember: A season opener isn't a reliable indicator of either team's prognosis over the next three months.

Saturday's opener left both teams with many questions heading into their second-week games (Vandy hosts Nevada; MTSU hosts Tennessee-Martin).

Is the Vanderbilt defensive front (six sacks) as strong as it showed? Or was the Commodores' size and strength simply showcased over a smaller MTSU defensive line? Can the Blue Raiders bounce back from their mental mistakes (several penalties for delay of game; a few more for offensive false starts)?

Can the Commodores meld the strong running game they showed on their first possession of the first half (Khari Blasingame had five carries for 43 yards, including a 30-yard scoring run) with the strong passing game they showed on their first possession of the second half (a 92-yard drive, capped by a Kyle Shurmur 17-yard pass to Chris Pierce).

Vanderbilt had 89 yards on 24 offensive plays in the first half; 257 on 31 in the second half when the Commodores stretched a tight 14-7 halftime lead into the final 35-7 margin.

And can the Blue Raiders get through the entire season with a healthy quarterback Brent Stockstill? He started 10-of-12 for 100 yards in the first quarter and finished 24-of-36 for 178 yards. But he also sustained those sacks and multiple other hard hits when he ran the ball more than a dozen times.

Thus, the script for the 2018 season has a long way to go. We've only seen the first chapter and the plot has not yet fully developed. It's up to both programs to write their own stories over the next 11 games.